SWAPA wants all FAPA Pilots

[737tanker]

Why are we talking about taking lynx pilots? No offense, but they are regional
airlines, right? We are adding regional guys with relatively low experience to SWAPA list??

If SWA buys Frontier Holdings then they get both Frontier and Lynx. It is better to have the Lynx pilots be SWAPA pilots than to allow SWA to operate an airline, even a small one, not flown by pilots that are on the SWAPA seniority list. As for not wanting regional guys at SWA about 1/2 of the pilots at SWA flew at regionals before coming to SWA, and many of those, including myself, flew nothing but turboprops.

 

[mayoplane]

I flew for two regionals myself but taking a FO from a prop and bring him/her to SWA makes no sense. Remember all the experience we had to get to fly for major/national?

 

[PCL_128]

Why are we talking about taking lynx pilots? No offense, but they are regional
airlines, right? We are adding regional guys with relatively low experience to SWAPA list??

As someone with CL65 in his profile, you should know better than to have a big ego about bringing regional guys on board. If the mainline carriers had fought for single lists in the '90s with their RJ pilots, we wouldn't have the massive mess that we do now in this industry. Those guys are airline pilots just like you are. Treat them like brothers.

I'm glad to see that SWAPA is pushing for a single list with everyone. It's an admirable position, and they should be commended.

 

[jonjuan]

I flew for two regionals myself but taking a FO from a prop and bring him/her to SWA makes no sense. Remember all the experience we had to get to fly for major/national?

A) most f/o's at lynx already have turbine pic and B), as a whole they have "more experience" as you put it than the average 1,500 hour f-16 guy/gal.

 

[firstthird]

If a plane is going to be flown with SWA colors, then it needs to have SWA pilots. period. I think our union understands this. hopefully we've learned from the experiences of others.

 

[mayoplane]

Hmmm. Am i that crazy and egoistic?? I appreciate all the input on this Lynx subject. I dont think a 9E guy who just got on board with 250 hrs would expect to get hired at DAL just because DAL aquired NWA. What about all the SWA poolies with Capt time who went to get the type rating?? Is it wrong to think that they deserve it more?

Im not trying to offend the Lynx guys. Just expressing MY feelings and i respect yours.

 

[StaySeated]

Here is my concern as an F9 guy.

Lets say SWA prevails in the auction. SWA and F9 currently fly to 30 of the same cities from Denver. If SWA owns F9, they surely will not continue to operate all of those flights. Additionally, SWA was already planning on decreasing capacity by 5-6% this year alone.

If they are decreasing capacity system wide, and they want to decrease capacity in Denver, where are all of the F9 guys going to fly?

I am not against the SWA acquisition, but I fear that it will lead to a huge number of furloughs. SWAPA is saying that they want all of the FAPA guys on the list, but where will we be on that list and how many of us will remain active?

 

[firstthird]

I'd suspect that F9 would be operated independent for some period of time. Hopefully this recession is over by then and SWA is back to growing. this probably won't be pretty no matter how it goes. even if SWA doesn't win and F9 goes to RAH. what do the chinese say, may you live in interesting times. not sure if it is supposed to be a curse or a blessing or both.

 

[firstthird]

What about all the SWA poolies with Capt time who went to get the type rating?

that is a real problem. having spent 2 years 2 months in the SWA pool, I feel your pain. if the F9 deal does go through, I don't think there is any real way that SWAPA could put poolies above F9 pilots on some SLI but I'm just some idiot on flight info. call the people department, not that they'll have answers but they are nice to talk to and they'll tell you what they know and can. I truly hope that we keep the pool intact and that you guys get treated fairly, although I can't say what that is. Unfortunately, the union has 5915 pilots already on property to take care of first.

 

[RedDogC130]

SWA pilots...this is operation Saving C.J....period.....you know what I am talking about

 

[firstthird]

this is operation Saving C.J

grab you c.j., it's on.

 

[waveflyer]

Reddog- this can't be framed in remotely the same light as save Dave - it's not apples to oranges- that's apples to dog sh!t-
+1 to lynx and same pay rates.
Sorry- as much of a lottery ticket as it is for lynx- I agree- 100% we have to include them in the fold- it's that type of comparing and 'i had to do it so should they' 'i was so much more qualified' that led to every other major going down that route- it's a handful of pilots but is a strong message about our stance on outsourcing. That would also provide some furlough protection for the F9 guys.

Speaking of that- lack of growth during contract negotiations? I'm just more optimistic- MSP/ BOS/ LGA/ 'we never could have guessed' is how DEN grew so fast-DEN is still growing regardless of F9- we have to fight- but there's so much opportunity for SWA it's ridiculous.

Frontier guys should want to be a part of it.

 

[krewmeel]

Lynx

SWAPA may want the Lynx guys on the list with the same pay rates as the 737 but I suspect that Kelly is not planning on keeping Lynx around. Lynx is currently its own company with its own operating certificate and General Offices etc. It would be easy to spin them off. WN management will probably either exclude them in the F9 takeover agreement or is negotiating as we speak to sell them off to Skywest or Mesa or whatever. The Q400 is highly desirable these days and to have a turnkey operation is worth something....just not to WN. Operating commuter aircraft is not the LUV way....

 

[regionaltard]

If the Lynx pilots ended up with SW numbers they'd have to put a new picture next to "windfall" in the dictionary.

 

[737tanker]

I flew for two regionals myself but taking a FO from a prop and bring him/her to SWA makes no sense. Remember all the experience we had to get to fly for major/national?

What I see SWA and SWAPA doing with Lynx is what PanAm did with PanAm Express. That is the pilots for Lynx would be SWAPA pilots with a SWA senority number, but would be restricted to Lynx flying for at least 4 years. But when they come up to SWA and the 737s they would come with their original senority number. Again this is what PanAm did with PanAm Express and it prevents management from having the two groups compete against each other, as American and Eagle do.

 

[Cometman]

Ok Cometman, what gives, do you have multiple personalities or what bro...I just copied this from another thread in which you are trashing the F9 guys and say, "F9 does not derserve to jump over any SWA pilot. They are lucky to be offered a job. Let me say, I am not a pilot with SWA. I could only wish I had the same chance as F9 will have." Yet in this thread you claim "if we are taking both groups then it has to be a staple."

I am not a pilot with SWA. The word WE was used in the heat of writing. I got involved and probably wished I was part of them. It is good that you read the article that close because some articles you have to be careful when reading. Thanks for pointing that out. I will try and profread next time to make sure it doesn't happen again. However, as long as you got the point I was making.

 

[Cometman]

No kiddin, I noticed that also. Also another thing cometman, we dont get to decide, ya got it? I want to go with SWA, I am happy with whatever they come up with but again we dont have a whole lot to say about it. how about giving it a rest?

I believe you will have a vote on whether you accept the deal from SWAPA. If SWA gets the bid and your union doesn't agree with SWAPA then the deal is off. So, in reality you do have a say. In fact if SWA wins you will be the deciding vote. You either agree or it is over.

 

[Cometman]

Here is my concern as an F9 guy.

Lets say SWA prevails in the auction. SWA and F9 currently fly to 30 of the same cities from Denver. If SWA owns F9, they surely will not continue to operate all of those flights. Additionally, SWA was already planning on decreasing capacity by 5-6% this year alone.

If they are decreasing capacity system wide, and they want to decrease capacity in Denver, where are all of the F9 guys going to fly?

I am not against the SWA acquisition, but I fear that it will lead to a huge number of furloughs. SWAPA is saying that they want all of the FAPA guys on the list, but where will we be on that list and how many of us will remain active?

You have guys on the street now. You are in Chapter 11 and going to the auction blocks. Do you think SWA pilots should wind up out in the street?

 

[StaySeated]

I am not a pilot with SWA. The word WE was used in the heat of writing. I got involved and probably wished I was part of them. It is good that you read the article that close because some articles you have to be careful when reading. Thanks for pointing that out. I will try and profread next time to make sure it doesn't happen again. However, as long as you got the point I was making.

Congrats, you just earned the ignore function...GMAFB

 

[Cometman]

Congrats, you just earned the ignore function...GMAFB

Sorry you feel that way. I understand your frustrations.